The commission is expected to review Michelson's revised contract on Tuesday.

Register, who joined the city in 2003, has agreed to work through September. She has been telecommuting from her new home near Pensacola and returns to Sunrise for commission meetings.

This fiscal year, Sunrise budgeted $406,399 to cover salary and benefits of the city attorney and an assistant city attorney.

Under Michelson's initial proposal, he would earn $444,000 a year as city attorney, with an automatic 4 percent annual raise. He would also charge an additional $225 an hour if he took on lawsuits and other issues typically handled by outside counsel, such as labor and pension issues.

He would continue to maintain his law office in Fort Lauderdale and would be able to take outside work.

"I don't think any of us will agree to pay more," Deputy Mayor Roger Wishner said before asking Michelson to revise his proposal. "There's a big disparity between what he's proposing and what we're paying now."

Commissioner Joseph Scuotto complained he had not had time to review the contract and questioned the cost of hiring a city attorney who won't have offices at City Hall.

"If we're talking about saving money for the city, we should have an [in-house] attorney," Scuotto said.

Michelson did agree to hire an assistant attorney who would work out of City Hall as in-house legal counsel.

Commissioner Sheila Alu also said she needed more time to review Michelson's proposal.

"I don't know anyone with Mr. Michelson's experience, knowledge or reputation in the community," Alu said. "I just want more time to look at the contract."

Michelson has done legal work for Sunrise as special counsel since 1985, helping the city navigate legal matters related to city elections, contracts and ethics complaints. As outside counsel for the city, he earned $250 an hour.

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7929.